Safety lock



g- 1969 A. SOLER MARTI ErAl. 3,462,984

SAFETY LOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 28, 1967 Aug. 26, 1969 SOLER A -n ETAL SAFETY LOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 28, 1967 United States Patent 26,5 Int. Cl. Eb 37/02, 37/00 US. Cl. 70-310 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A combination lock is described which utilizes a first series of toothed wheels actuated by combination setting discs. A second series of wheels each of which has a notched plate attached thereto is operatively associated with the first series. The notches correspond to a protuberance on the bolt such that the protuberance will fit into the notches on the second series of wheels when all of the notches are in alignment. The second series of wheels is laterally moveable to disengage the two sets of wheels so that a combination can be set without the requirement for internal access into the lock.

The present invention is concerned with a lock mechanism which includes means which allow its operating and blocking without the necessity of a key.

The freeing of the means of operation of the mechanism for the opening of the lock depends on the independent angular position of a complex of discs, the relative position of the complex of these discs determining a combination easily retained in the memory of the user.

The mechanism likewise includes means to facilitate the turning of the discs in a form not visible to any person other than the user, the said means being housed in the interior of the knob of the lock.

Another important characteristic of the invention is based on the fact of it being possible to vary the combination of the lock without dismantling the latter. This is accomplished by means of the operation from the posterior part of the door of a device which temporarily frees the interior means of blocking of the combination means, thus making it possible to vary the angular position of the combination means relative to another angular position which corresponds to the new combination.

Another important characteristic of the invention is concerned with the incorporation of means which make it possible to place the mechanism in a blocking position when the bolt has been shot without the necessity of maintaining the combination necessary to open the lock.

The lock described in the present specification of invention likewise incorporates mechanical means which are known in this type of mechanism together with other new elements, necessary for its operation.

In what follows, a practical form for the industrial realization of the invention is described. In the description reference is made to the annexed drawings, and the said description is included merely by way of information and consequently is not in any way limitative of the invention.

In the said drawings:

FIGURE 1 shows a perspective view of the complex of the lock mechanism, in accordance with one form of realization, in which the elements appear in separated positions and duly arranged for their fitting together.

FIGURE 2 shows a posterior view of the lock, in accordance with FIGURE 1, already fitted up.

FIGURE 3 shows a view similar to that of FIGURE 1, of another form of realization of a lock mechanism 3,462,984 Patented Aug. 26, 1969 in accordance with the present invention into which certain improvements have been introduced.

FIGURES 4 and 5 correspond to two operating positions of the locking device.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, the lock is housed in a box 1 with its cover 2 which is supported on the surface of the door 3 to which four screws 4 fix it firmly.

In the interior of the lock there are two mechanisms: one of these is that which opens and closes the door, the other being that which authorizes or not the opening of the said door.

The mechanism for opening and closing the door is achieved by means of the displacement of the bolt 5 and its plate 6, guided in its movement by the opening of the housing 1, through which the bolt 5 emerges, by the block 7 situated in the hollow 8 of the plate 6, and by the hollow 9 which surrounds the eccentric piece 10 which is provided with the arm 11 whose edge 12 can push the edge 13 of the plate 6 and thus bring about its displacement, overcoming the action of the spring 14.

The movement of the eccentric piece 10 causes the edge 15 to raise the lever 16, overcoming the action of the spring 17 so that the transversal arm 18 will be moved towards the eccentric piece 11 and will block the turning of the toothed wheels 19, 20 and 21 belonging to the mechanism of the combination of the lock.

The turning of the eccentric piece 11 is achieved by operating a knob 22 (drawn in diametrical section which forms a solid piece with a shaft 23 the end of which is a section) in the form of a prism 24 which fits into the housing 25 of the eccentric piece 11 and is finally fixed by a box nut 26 with its washer 27 which is screwed into the threaded end 28 of the shaft 23.

The movement of the bolt 5 is possible provided that the piece 29 can penetrate into the grooves 30, 31 and 32 in wheels 33, 34 and 35 which can turn freely on a common shaft 36.

When the grooves 31 and 32 occupy the position indicated for the groove 30, the piece 29 of the bolt 5 occupies the position 29', shown by a broken line, and can then penetrate into the three grooves. When the three wheels 33, 34 and 35 do not simultaneously present their grooves 30, 31 and 32 facing the piece 29, the bolt 5 cannot enter the housing 1 and the lock is in its closed or locked position.

The mechanism of the combination is constituted by the three wheels 33, 34 and 35, which mesh with the three wheels 19, 20 and 21. The latter are coupled in turn to three operating discs, 37, 38 and 39, which are provided with suitable marks in order to enable their angular position to be recognized.

In order to introduce a combination into the lock mechanism, the shaft 36 is moved parallel to itself so that the wheels 33, 34 and 35 cease to mesh respectively with the Wheels 19, 20 and 21. This movement is achieved (FIGURE 2) by separating the elastic tongue 40 so that a small pivot 41 of the posterior part of the housing 1 enters the orifice 42; this is achieved by pushing the guide piece 43 in the direction indicated by the arrow 44. Then the block 7 moves along the guide-groove 45 causing the shaft 36 and the wheels 33, 34 and 35 to move likewise. The said wheels should naturally present their grooves 30, 31 and 32 in order to cover the piece 29 of the bolt 5. The combination is then introduced into the lock by rotating the disc 37 in a counter-clockwise direction for the number of teeth of the wheel 19 desired, the teeth being retained by the catch 46 joined by a spring 47 to another catch 48 which remains motionless until the disc 38 is moved in a clockwise direction, as shown by an arrow. When disc 38 is moved in this manner, the wheel 20 situated in the same plane is permitted to ad- 3 vance tooth by tooth. In this manner the disc 38 is also brought to the position corresponding to the combination desired.

If the disc 39 is rotated the wheel 21 will be moved in a counter-clockwise direction, tooth by tooth, as is permitted by the catch or pawl 49, until it occupies the desired position in the combination.

Having situated the discs 37, 33 and 39 in the key positions so that the sliding piece 5 can be operated, the tongue 40 (FIGURE 2) is raised, the piece 43 and the block 7 are caused to slide in a direction contrary to that of the arrow 44 until the teeth of the wheels 33, 34 and 35 mesh with the teeth of the wheels 19, 20 and 21, at which moment the pivot 41 (FIGURE 2) will enter the orifice 50.

In any other position of the discs 37, 38 and 39 the piece 29 will not simultaneously encounter the three grooves 30, 31 and 32, and thus it will not be possible to open the door.

The movement of the knob of 22 to open the door gives rise to the movement of the lever 16 and thus the transversal arm 18 penetrated among the teeth of the wheels 19, 20 and 21 immobilizes them even though the hand should inadvertedly touch one of the discs 37, 38 or 39, and so the combination necessary for the opening of the door is not disturbed.

The movement of the disc 37 is transmitted to a bushing 51 which is coaxially disposed about the shaft 23 and ends in notches which mesh in one single position with notches 52 in another bushing 53 which forms a solid part with the wheel 19. The bushings 51 and 53 have the same diameter and are lined up so as to cover the shaft 23.

The disc 38 forms a solid piece with a bushing or sleeve 54 which is coupled by means of notches to another bushing or sleeve 55 which in turn forms a solid piece with the wheel 20. These said bushings or sleeves 54 and 55 are coaxially disposed about the previously mentioned bushings or sleeves 51 and 52.

Lastly, the disc 39 has a sleeve or bushing 56 which is coupled, also by means of notches, with another bushing or sleeve 57 which forms a solid unit with the wheel 21.

By loosening the nut 26 the complex of the knob 22 and the discs 37, 38 and 39, together with their bushings or sleeves, may be removed. The lid 2 may then be fitted to the housing 1, and the whole complex may be fixed to a door 3' (FIGURE 2).

The concentric bushings or sleeves 51, 54 and 56 are now introduced, as is the shaft 23, through the hole made in the door for the lock and through the cover 2 until they mesh with the corresponding bushings or sleeves 52, 55 and 57 and the prism shaped part 24 of the shaft 23 in the housing 25 of the eccentric piece 11, there emerging through the posterior part of the housing 1 the screw 28 which receives the washer 27 and the box nut 26.

In the form of realization of the invention corresponding to FIGURES 3, 4 and 5, the mechanism has been improved with various devices which endow the operation of the lock with greater elements of security.

In this case the lock consists of a housing 201, on which there is supported a first plate 202, which can move in the direction indicated by the arrow 202. Disposed upon plate 202 is a second plate 204, which can slide in the direction shown by the arrow 205. 'Disposed on the plate 204 is a third plate 206 which can turn around the shaft 208 which penetrates its orifice 209 in the direction shown by the arrow 207.

On the bottom 201 of the housing is disposed a piece 210 in the form of a handle with a projecting piece 211 which describes an arc of circumference 212 and thus can thrust against the edge 214 of the plate 206 so that the plate 206 can be made to travel in an upward direction.

On the bottom 201 of the housing there is also a guidegroove 215 along which a plate 216 may slide in two .4 fixed positions: one of these is raised as shown by the arrow 217, while the other position is lowered, as shown by the arrow 218. In the drawing the plate 216 is shown in its raised position.

Finally, member 220 is disposed about shaft 219.

The control device of the lock consists of a knob 101. The knob 101 has a cylindrical form and along the generatrix of the cylinder there is a groove 103 in which a button 104 can move, in accordance with the double direction of the arrow 105, the said button 104 having in an interior prolongation a tooth or projecting piece 106 which can make contact, when the knob 101 is caused to rotate, with the lug or projecting piece 107 of the disc 108, forming a solid piece with the shaft 228 and another similar projecting piece of the disc 109 not shown in the drawing, the said disc 109 forming a solid unit with the toothed wheel 223. The said piece 106 may contact a projecting piece or lug, not shown in the drawing, of the disc 110 connected with the wheel 222, or with the projecting piece 111 of the disc 112 which forms a solid piece with the toothed Wheel 221.

On opening the door the button 104 is moved with a finger to the position which is required so that its tooth 106 may push the tooth of the disc which it is desired to operate without it being possible for any other person to observe which disc is being moved, thus the secret of the combination of the lock is kept.

To the three toothed wheels 221, 222, and 223, the three combination discs 224, 225 and 226 have lined up their notches 227, and on acting on the shaft 228, its square shaped prismatic end 229 enters the opening 230, of the piece 210, causing it to turn, and the projecting piece 211 will describe the arc 212. On thrusting against the edge 214 of the plate 216, the orifice 232 is caused to push upwards the pin or stud 233 and the plate 202 rises, the blade 231 entering into the grooves 227 of the discs of the combination.

The projecting piece 211 connects with the piece 234 of the plate 204, and this causes the said plate 204 to slide as shown by the arrow 205, and the bolt 235 opens or closes the door.

The plate 204 has been able to move because its projecting piece 236 is no longer engaged in the hollow 237. Since the plate 206 has been lifted, the projecting piece 236 can slide under the tooth 238.

The two extreme positions of the projecting piece 211 correspond to the two extreme positions of the bolt 235 and in them plate 202 descends, separating the blade 231 from the grooves 227, the combination discs 224, 225 and 226 being now free to rotate, and thus the combination may be removed.

In each one of the extreme positions of the projecting piece 211, the plate 206 will have descended and the projecting piece 236 of the plate 204 will have been housed, either in the hollow 237 or in the hollow 239, and the lock wall remain blocked in its two positions, open or closed, until the discs 224, 225 and 226 are once again situated in the position required by the combination which aligns the grooves 227.

When it is desired to remove the existing combination and produce a new combination, it will be necessary, in the first place, to open the lock in order to situate the discs 224, 225 and 226 With their grooves aligned facing the blade 231. Under these conditions, on operating the knob on the shaft 228 and raising the plate 202, the orifice 240 descends, lining up with the orifice 241 of the plate 204, and with the orifice 242 of the posterior cover of the housing of the lock, it being possible under these conditions to insert a bolt or pin 243, momentarily blocking the plate 202 in its raised position and the plate 204 in its open position. Under these conditions it is possible to cause the block 216 to descend along the groove 215 which serves as a guide, and thereby cause the shaft 244 to move; this shaft enters the central orifices 245 of the combination discs 224, 225 and 226, in whose grooves 227 the blade 231 is inserted deeper, the teeth of the wheels 221, 222 and 223 being freed from those corresponding to the discs 224, 225 and 226, shown in partial form by broken lines in the drawing and which continue to be aligned even though the position of the wheels 221, 222 and 223 is varied, by handling the knob 101 with its button 105 to prepare a new combination.

On the plate 216 descending, it pushes the square head 246 so that it engages in the notch 247 and there is thus prevented false manoeuvre which would cause the plate 202 to descend, even though the bolt 243 were to be removed from the orifices 240, 241 and 242. When the block 216 is replaced in its raised position, where it is retained by a tooth, not shown in the drawing, the discs 224, 225 and 226 mesh with the wheels 221, 222 and 223 in their new combination position, and the square head 246 is no longer forced to make contact with the notch 247. Thus, the plate 202 can descend if the bolt 243 is removed.

It is obvious that other variants of realization of this invention are possible, as likewise changes in the materials, forms and arrangement of its elements, provided that the said alterations are included within the fundamental characteristics of the invention.

What we claim is:

1. A combination lock comprising:

a housing;

a bolt having a protrusion thereon facing the interior of said housing;

actuating means for imparting transverse motion to said bolt;

biasing means for urging said bolt into an extended position;

a first solid shaft, one end of which is opertaively associated with said actuating means;

knob means rigidly attached to the other end of said first shaft, and disposed exteriorly of said housings;

a plurality of discs disposed between said knob and the exterior of said housing;

a first plurality of bushings, each of which is rigidly attached to a corresponding one of said plurality of discs, said bushings being coaxially disposed about said first solid shaft and extending into the interior of said housing;

notches described in the ends of said first plurality of bushings on the ends remote from said rigidly attached discs;

a second plurality of bushings corresponding in diameters to said first plurality of bushings and coaxially disposed about said first solid shaft;

notches described in said second plurality of bushings for fitting engagement with said notches in said first plurality of bushings;

a first plurality of toothed wheels, each of said plurality being rigidly attached to a corresponding one of said plurality of said second plurality of bushings;

a plurality of pawl means, each of said pawl means engageable with a corresponding one of said first plurality of toothed wheels;

a second rigid shaft;

a second plurality of toothed Wheels rotatably disposed about said second rigid shaft, each of said second plurality of toothed wheels being engageable with a corresponding one of said first plurality of toothed Wheels; and

a notched plate attached to each of said second plurality of toothed Wheels such that said protrusion on said bolt can be inserted in said notches in said plates when all of the notches in said plate are in alinement.

2. The combination lock as described in claim 1 Wherein said first solid shaft is attached to said actuating means by screw-thread means such that upon uncoupling of said screw-thread means, said first solid shaft and said first and second plurality of bushings coaxially disposed thereabout can be removed without disturbing the relative positions of the first plurality of toothed Wheels.

3. The combination lock as described in claim 1, wherein said second solid shaft, together with the second plurality of toothed wheels and plurality of notched plates associated therewith coaxially disposed about said shaft are capable of lateral motion for disengaging said second plurality of toothed wheels from said first plurality of toothed wheels.

4. The combination lock as described in claim 1, and further comprising blocking means engageable with the teeth of said first plurality of toothed wheels and operatively associated with said actuating means for preventing rotation of said first plurality of toothed wheels when said first solid shaft is rotated by means of said knob for transverse motion of said bolt.

5. The combination lock as described in claim 1, wherein said plurality of discs are of progressively increasing diameter as their position from said knob toward said housing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 757,733 4/1904 Frank 159 1,416,855 5/1922 Michalek 70-31O 1,496,289 6/1924 Barker 70-146 1,571,125 1/1926 Lappas 70-4 2,679,743 6/ 1954 Quintero 70-129 MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner ROBERT L. WOLFE, Assistant Examiner 

